February 7, 2012

The six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) recalled their ambassadors from Damascus today and ordered Syria’s ambassadors to leave their territories immediately. The announcement was made in a statement issued in Riyadh by Saudi Arabia, the current rotating President of the GCC. The statement cited the Assad regime’s rejection of all the sincere attempts made by Arab countries to solve the political crisis and spare the blood of the Syrian people.

“With deep regret and outrage, the GCC member countries are closely following the increasing rhythm of killings and violence in Syria in what could be described, in its least terms, as collective massacre against the unarmed Syrian people and the demonstration of the Syrian regime’s brutal acts against children, the elderly and women, as well as its lack of respect for human rights or humanitarian ethical feelings,” the statement read.

It added, “The GCC member states express profound pain and regret for the killing of innocent souls and the infliction of great sacrifice on the people of Syria as their governing regime is not defending the country against an external aggressor but, in fact, running a power-conflict game that cares nothing about the Syrian people’s dignity or freedom.”

The statement advised Arab nations to meet at Arab League headquarters next week and take the necessary decisive measures to stop the dangerous escalation against Syrian civilians, which has failed to bring about a resolution.